Pastors and the Preeminence of Christ

The other day I posted a list of principles that I believe ought to be foundational for any pastor. Starting today, I’m hoping to elaborate on each point, beginning with “The Preeminence of Christ.”

A pastor’s most significant responsibility is to perceive and proclaim the preeminence of Christ. In all that he does, the pastor is explicitly Christ-centered, to the glory of God the Father.

First, a pastor must himself perceive Christ’s preeminence. By this, I mean that the pastor himself truly grasps, in head and heart, Christ’s supremacy in all things. It is not merely that he speaks of such things to others, or preaches such things from the pulpit, or agrees to such things when asked. Rather, it is that his own heart is gripped mightily by the beauty, sufficiency, and authority of Christ. His Savior is wonderful to him and his Lord authoritative over him before ever he seeks to proclaim such truths to others. His whole ministry, then, becomes the overflow of his own inward life. A dry spring quenches no one’s thirst, and a pastor not deep in his life with Christ is ineffective in his task.

And, indeed, it is his task to proclaim the preeminence of Christ. Whatever else he is, the minister of Christ is a herald and a preacher of Christ, declaring spiritual things with spiritual words. He cares little for the latest trend or most popular novelty, but instead loves the old, old story, having resolved to know and make known nothing but Christ and him crucified. To be sure, the minister doesn’t have his head in the sand when it comes to the wider world- his duty surely involves being informed- but nothing in that whole world will divert him from his overarching mission: to proclaim the excellence of his Lord. And even as he must teach (and indeed he must) on a whole host of themes, never are these taught apart from a sure and vital commitment to connecting all things to the preeminence of Christ, that all men His glory might see.

A MUST read for seminary students and pastors

Warfield on the necessity of ministers being both learned AND godly (this fits in nicely with what Carson said in the DG blog I posted recently):

"Say what you will, do what you will, the ministry is a "learned profession"; and the man without learning, no matter with what other gifts he may be endowed, is unfit for its duties. But learning, though indispensable, is not the most indispensable thing for a minister. "Apt to teach"—yes, the ministry must be "apt to teach"; and observe that what I say—or rather what Paul says—is "apt to teach." Not apt merely to exhort, to beseech, to appeal, to entreat; nor even merely, to testify, to bear witness; but to teach. And teaching implies knowledge: he who teaches must know. Paul, in other words, requires of you, as we are perhaps learning not very felicitously to phrase it, "instructional," not merely "inspirational," service. But aptness to teach alone does not make a minster; not is it his primary qualification. It is only one of a long list of requirements which Paul lays down as necessary to meet in him who aspires to this high office. And all the rest concern, not his intellectual, but his spiritual fitness. A minister must be learned, on pain of being utterly incompetent for his work. But before and above being learned, a minister must be godly.
Nothing could be more fatal, however, than to set these two things over against one another. Recruiting officers do not dispute whether it is better for soldiers to have a right leg or a left leg: soldiers should have both legs. Sometimes we hear it said that ten minutes on your knees will give you a truer, deeper, more operative knowledge of God than ten hours over your books. "What!" is the appropriate response, "than ten hours over your books, on your knees?" Why should you turn from God when you turn to your books, or feel that you must turn from your books in order to turn to God?"

Read the whole thing here:
http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/bb_warfield/bb_warfield.religiouslifestudents.html

Good stuff from the DG blog on seminary

My friend Tyler alerted me to some helpful stuff at the Desiring God blog relative to seminary life. Thanks Tyler!
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/read-the-bible-devotionally-and-no-less-critically

A model for young ministers

I only listened to the first few minutes of this just now, but I'm sure the whole thing will be well worth the time this weekend! So thankful for this man.

Contextual Theology?

An interesting quote...food for thought as far as how we develop our theological formulations...

"Tite Tienou and Paul Hiebert (2002) have suggested that while systematic theology is important for helping us understand such things as sin, another kind of theology, missional theology, is also needed. Missional theologizing, as they conceive it, is context-sensitive theologizing oriented toward formulations of the Christian message not only for Christians but also for non-Christians in diverse cultural settings. Systematic theologians historically have treated sin in relatively abstract and acontextual terms. Missional theologians, as Heibert and Tienou conceive them, ought to focus on producing context-sensitive theological discourses (on such theological concepts as sin) in specific cultural contexts around the globe."
- Priest, Robert J. “Experience-near Theologizing,” in Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an Era of World Christianity. 183. Edited by Craig Ott and Harold A. Netland. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.

I'm sensing a theme here...

"You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:45

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son..." Romans 8:29

"...be imitators of God." Ephesians 5:1

"...we shall be like him..." 1 John 3:1

"...it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16

Principles of Pastoral Ministry

The following is my current attempt to list certain priorities that ought to guide a pastor. I think every pastor and would-be pastor should work hard to develop such guidelines, and then keep working to refine them, elaborate upon them, and figure out how to implement them in his ministry. Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, I can elaborate upon my own list here (p.s. forgive the alliteration!).

1. The Preeminence of Christ
2. The Proclamation of the Truth
• The Preaching of the Word
• The Pedagogy (teaching) of the Saints
3. The Priority of the Gospel
4. The Power of Prayer
5. The Purpose of Christ-Likeness
6. The Pursuit of the Mission
7. The Purveyance of Good Works
8. The Progress and Preparation of the Pastor
9. The Partnerships of the Pastor
10. The Participation by the Pastor in the Life of the Saints
11. The Peculiarity of the Church
12. The Protection of the Pastor’s Family

Seasoned veterans

Recently I sent out an email to a handful of pastors asking them them the following questions:

1. What was one thing that was very helpful to you in terms of preparing for pastoral ministry?

2. Looking back, what do you think would have been beneficial to you in terms of preparing for pastoral ministry that you did not experience prior to entering the ministry?

Though I've not received responses from everyone, I thought it might be good just to post these two replies. Very helpful.

Response #1

"1. Most helpful - opportunities to do the work of ministry before becoming a pastor. Preaching to our small church on Sunday evenings (started with 10 minute messages when the youth group led the service), speaking at school Bible clubs, doing pastoral visitation at hospitals and nursing homes with my pastor (my father), attending congregational business meetings to learn Roberts Rules of Order by observation, Secular work as a restaurant manager taught people skills and project management. I was provided opportunities to success or fail and learn from those experiences.

2. Missed - training in the legal system. Much of my counseling ministry involved people who overlap with the legal system - divorce,  protective orders, living will and end of life decisions, bankruptcy and foreclosure, etc. People's spiritual needs are not isolated from social and financial concerns."

Response #2

"There were a lot of helpful things, but since I can just pick one I would say 6 years in the US Air Force and 3 years in business prior to ministry.  Having life experience outside of ministry was invaluable to me in relating to people as well as preaching.  I was able to understand people's worlds much better and that was so important when I became a pastor.  For many reasons that I can think of.  Respect for clergy is no longer just given with the position as it used to be.  I think living in the world outside of ministry goes a long way in getting respect from the people you are pastoring.

 

I wish I had more Bible classes in my undergraduate degree prior to seminary.  I also wish I had more counseling classes."